Protesting foreign nationals held at repatriation centre have legal status to be in SA - Home Affairs
5 December 2019
The Department of Home Affairs has announced it has verified the status of foreign nationals who protested outside the offices of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Pretoria in November.
A total of 224 women, 169 children and seven men are being held at the Lindela Repatriation Centre pending a verification process by the department.
In a statement issued on Thursday, it said the foreign nationals have legal status to be in the country.
"Some are documented refugees, while others are documented asylum seekers. The department is encouraging and assisting these foreign nationals to return to their places of residences in South Africa."